Family Time…God’s leading and your imitation
This is the final week of the month focusing on God’s preservation and ruling of all creation in your Family Time. There are actually two lessons left one on God’s leadership and one on God’s plan for good in your life. You can combine these short lessons in your discussion time or just pick one to work through. Beginning with God’s leadership…what is God’s leadership style? How does He lead you and me? Have you ever stopped and thought about that before? Notice that God role-models His expectations by acting the way that He wants us to act. He clearly tells us what He expects in writing by using scripture to give us written information of His expectations. Later, He sent a human example for us to follow by sending the visible image of Himself...Jesus. Then, to follow up He sent the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a reminder within us to keep us on track. So, God the Father role-models in His character & attributes; Jesus, God the Son, is sent as a human role-model; God also writes it down (scripture); and gives us reminders (the Holy Spirit). God is a great Leader. Now you can tie in the second lesson which focuses on the fact that God truly wants you to understand His plans for you and your life.
As a Mom, I have witnessed my kids either influence others or be influence by others; some of it good and some of it bad. Among teens, there always seems to be someone who leads and the others follow. I have always thought of leadership in a good way. But I also have witnessed very damaging leadership by an acquaintance of my daughter’s; notice I did not say a friend. This young woman was very influential among her peers, but used her influence for bullying. Mentors of this young woman tried to reason with her to use her leadership skills more wisely, but she chose not too and it led her down a very destructive path for herself and others. This is very common in the middle school years and often kids do not understand how hurtful they are being to themselves or others.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family to look honestly at their own lives. Pray that God would help each person recognize who they influence and their own leadership style. Pray that God would also help each person see His love and His desire for their best interests. God really does desire our good and causes your life to work that way. Explain to your family, that sometimes God’s ideas differ from your own ideas for your life and trusting God plays a huge role in having peace when things don’t go as planned. Encourage your family to share openly about trusting God. It is easy to trust God with some things but not quite everything. Then relate that back to how that can affect your leadership style. Enjoy the discussion and listening to your kids hearts!
Do you need help or prayer for your family time? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.
I will be praying for you!
Stacy
Stacy A. Davis
Teach Intentionally
This week we are in the 7th Month Topic and 4th & 5th Family Time (or page 64 & 65 of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…
Family Time 4:
Month 7 Topic: God works to preserve and rule all of creation…His power/leading…imitation
Talk with God: Read…2 Chronicles 20:6, Daniel 5:21
~ 2 Chronicles 20:6 And he said, "O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.”
- In 2 Chr 20:6, who is ruler over all the kingdoms of nations?
~ Daniel 5:21 He recognized that the Most High God is Ruler over the realm of mankind, and [that] He sets over it whomever He wishes.
- In Dan 5:21, who puts rulers in place?
- In Dan 5:21, whom does God choose?
Walk with God: Discuss…Even though God is an all-powerful Ruler, He still gives us the choice to follow Him in our lives. Are you a leader? Has God set you “over” something? What kind of ruler/leader are you?
Prayer suggestion… Pray for our country and the leaders God has put in place. Pray that you are a godly leader in your area of influence.
Family Time 4:
Leader Answers:
- God
- God
- Whomever He wishes
- Discussion ideas: Jesus was a servant leader. He led by example. We can do the same. Study His leadership style. Discuss how you handle a leader that you don’t agree with. How do you handle a leader that God has appointed and then leads contrary to God’s Word? Pray. There is a lot of power in prayer. Read in Scripture how Jesus handled it.
Family Time 5:
Month 7 Topic: God works to preserve and rule all of creation…Our overall good
Talk with God: Read…Romans 8:28
~ Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.
- In Rom 8:28, what does God cause all things to work together for?
- In Rom 8:28, who is the group that He causes good for?
- In Rom 8:28, what is this group called for?
Walk with God: Discuss… Is there a time that you did not think something worked out the way you wanted, but you later realized it was really for your good? Share that time with each other…and the good result.
Prayer suggestion… Pray that you would see God working things “for your good” and not just wanting “good things.”
Family Time 5:
Leader Answers:
- Good
- Those who love God
- His purposes
- Discussion ideas: We have to trust that God has the big picture of “our good” in mind and that His Kingdom purpose is always more important than what we want all the time. Examples could be a friendship ended, a job lost, a sickness…but a blessing resulted such as the friend was making bad choices in life, the new job found was better for you, the sickness ended and taught you to value your health.
© 2011 Tori Miller and Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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